My Honest LANEIGE Skincare Review

After having some success with LUSH, I decided to drop by Sephora and see if they give free samples. Sure enough, the employee told me that they offer three samples per visit, although you're limited to products they can scoop or pump out of a container. I don't wear makeup or perfume anyway, so this seemed like a great opportunity to try some new skincare formulas.

I looked around and found a brand called LANEIGE that looked intriguing. Upon request, an employee prepared three samples and handed them to me in a black-and-white striped Sephora bag. Vanilla Lip Sleeping Mask, Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Gel Moisturizer, and Bouncy and Firm Sleeping Mask: I'd never heard of these products before, but they were free and packed with nourishing ingredients, so why not?

As always, this is NOT a paid LANEIGE promotion. These are my honest, unfiltered opinions about their skincare products. If you're ready to start, let's dive in!

What is LANEIGE?

LANEIGE is a Korean skincare company that specializes in overnight masks and hydrating formulas. Their collection also includes cleansers, toners, serums and eye care. While they've been around since the 90s, they found a new audience when they partnered with Sephora, where they sold over 200,000 Lip Sleeping Masks in less than a year.

LANEIGE Vanilla Lip Sleeping Mask

Vanilla Lip Sleeping Mask includes shea butter, murumuru seed, coconut oil, raspberry juice and other nourishing ingredients. To use, you apply the mask to your lips before bed and wash it off in the morning. The website claims that this product will soften and hydrate your lips, giving them a smooth, plump appearance.

Inside the container, the formula had an off-white hue, a thick and creamy consistency, and a mild vanilla fragrance with strong synthetic notes. Since the full-size product is a little pricey, I was expecting soothing, natural ingredients, but the aroma and texture gave off distinctly "artificial" vibes. The formula was thick and clear when I smeared the mask on my lips before going to sleep.

The next morning, my lips did feel soft and moisturized. However, when I rinsed off the mask, I noticed that some dry skin lingered on the surface. Admittedly, my lips are probably drier than most people's, but this wasn't the luxurious experience I was anticipating.

For the next few nights, I tried applying more of the mask, but I ended up with the same result. This wasn't a bad formula, but I felt like I could have gotten the same effects with a cheaper product, such as Vaseline. People with mild dryness might have better luck than I did.

LANEIGE Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Gel Moisturizer

Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Gel Moisturizer comes with meadowfoam seed oil, blue hyaluronic acid, mint leaf extract and other ingredients that supposedly hydrate your skin and create a trendy "glass skin" appearance. To get the effects, you'll add the formula to your daily skincare routine.

The moisturizer consisted of a clear, unscented gel with tiny white beads inside. While the formula was mildly abrasive, the beads quickly dissolved when they touched my skin. Applying the moisturizer created a refreshing, cooling sensation, making this a great summer product--although you can use it all year round.

Afterward, my face felt soft, plump and pliable. I expected the effects to wear off, but the softness remained until I took a shower that evening and presumably washed off the formula. I kept using this product for a few days until I ran out, and it definitely delivered on the smooth, dewy texture.

Overall, this was the softest and healthiest my skin has felt in ages. As someone with oily skin, I was worried about product build-up, but my skin felt hydrated without an excessive sheen. It's a great formula for anyone dealing with dryness, tightness or wrinkling.

LANEIGE Bouncy and Firm Sleeping Mask

Bouncy and Firm Sleeping Mask offers hyaluronic acids, green tea probiotics, fruit and floral extracts, and other ingredients that aim to hydrate and nourish your skin. As the name suggests, you'll apply this mask before bed and rinse it off in the morning.

When I opened the container, a mildly sweet aroma wafted from the thick, light pink formula. Like the gel moisturizer, the formula created a cooling sensation when I applied it to my skin. The product went on clear and was nearly invisible when I went to bed.

The next morning, I washed off the mask and noticed that my face felt softer and plumper. Some of the redness from the previous day had faded, too. This fresh, dewy appearance lingered throughout the day, and as I used the mask throughout the week, my pores became less visible.

Ultimately, this formula went above and beyond what I expected. If you're dealing with dry skin, I highly recommend this mask, especially when used alongside the gel moisturizer. It's fast and easy to use, and you don't need much to cover your face.

Overall Verdict

The Vanilla Lip Sleeping Mask wasn't quite as effective as I'd hoped. However, the Bouncy and Firm Sleeping Mask and Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Gel Moisturizer left my skin feeling soft, plump and refreshed. These products are a little pricey, so I suggest grabbing samples at Sephora before you take the plunge.

Have you tried LANEIGE products? What did you think? Let me know in the comments.